Mazda MX-5 Miata vs. Subaru BRZ: A Sports Car Showdown

If you have a six-figure budget, you have a lot of options to choose from in the sports car market. However, for most people who love to drive, the price tag of a Porsche or Lamborghini is just too steep. Enter the Mazda MX-5 Miata and Subaru BRZ. These two popular models are the sportiest options in their brands, and they have a lot to offer those who are looking for the thrill and fun of a sports car with a price tag that is much closer to a sedan.

Comparing the Mazda MX-5 Miata and Subaru BRZ

Both Mazda and Subaru are well known among buyers for their crossover and sedan-style models. Indeed, these brands are among the most popular for those looking for a more “rugged” sport experience. However, both brands also recognize that the drivers who love adventure look for it in different arenas, which is why they each offer a sports car model that emphasizes speed and compact styling.

Let’s look at what makes the Mazda MX-5 Miata and Subaru BRZ stand out from each other as well as their respective brand families.

Design and Styling

Both the Mazda MX-5 Miata and the Subaru BRZ are two-door sports coupes that bear all the markings of each manufacturer’s particular style. Specifically, the convertible two-seat Mazda MX-5 Miata takes full advantage of Mazda’s KODO design philosophy, emphasizing smooth lines, delicate curves, and prismatic captures of light when viewed from the right angle. Notably, the Miata is available as both a hard top (designated as the Mazda MX-5 Miata RF) and soft top convertible. Additionally, Mazda has five total MX-5 Miata trims to select from, including three soft top and two hard top options.

The BRZ is a bit more business-like in its appearance, although it does have a clear sports car profile, thanks to an elongated front line. The BRZ offers four seats, which accounts for its box-like style and is more emblematic of its brand. The Subaru BRZ comes in three different trim options, all of which feature fixed roof hard tops.

Engine Performance and Driving Dynamics

In a world full of hybrid and electric options, both the Miata and BRZ stand out as classic, rear-wheel drive, manual transmission, gasoline-powered coupes that rely on the type of built-in performance enhancements that make driving so dynamic and fun.

For the Mazda, this means a 2.0-liter, 16-valve, four-cylinder engine with SKYACTIV®-G2 technology. Offering up to 181 horsepower (hp) and 151 pound-feet (lb-ft) of torque, the engine in the MX-5 Miata might not seem that impressive at first, but its performance really stands out when you look at what it is propelling. The 2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata weighs 2,454 pounds and was designed with near-perfect balance between front and back, including accounting for the weight of the average driver and passenger. As a result, the power and performance of the Miata is clear when the vehicle accelerates from zero to 60 miles per hour (MPH) in a mere 5.5 seconds.

The Subaru offers a slightly larger, 2.4-liter, four-cylinder Subaru Boxer engine that offers up to 228 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. However, this larger and ostensibly more powerful engine is offset by the weight on the BRZ, as compared to the MX-5. Coming in at 2,860 pounds, a hefty 406-pound increase over the Miata, the BRZ’s extra power is cancelled out, with the vehicle also accelerating from zero to 60 MPH in 5.5 seconds.

Technology and Infotainment

Both Mazda and Subaru have spent extensive time developing the technology installed in all their vehicles, specifically in the realms of entertainment and safety. For both of these sports cars, that means drivers have a variety of benefits and options to enjoy.

In the Subaru BRZ, this starts with the eight-inch Subaru Starlink multimedia system, equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto along with additional technology features such as Bluetooth, Sirius XM, and a high-resolution touchscreen with voice-activated controls. In terms of safety, the BRZ offers Subaru’s EyeSight driver assist technology, which includes features such as adaptive cruise control, lane departure warnings, and lane keep assist.

The Mazda also has some great interior technology features. They start with a nine-speaker bespoke Bose® standard sound system in most trim levels. This is paired with an 8.8-inch, full-color center display and infotainment system with voice-activated control and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration. Equipped with Mazda’s i-Activsense® safety technology, the MX-5 Miata offers drivers several comforts, such as adaptive front lighting, blond spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a smart braking system.

Driving Experience and Comfort

The Mazda MX-5 Miata and Subaru BRZ are sports cars, so while style is a must, space is not exactly the focus of either model. Having said that, both offer comfort to their drivers and passengers in different formats while focusing on what matters most to the sports car owner — the sports car driving experience.

Space in the Subaru BRZ comes from the “extra” seats in the back, although they are a bit small and may not be comfortable for anyone other than children. These seats do fold down, however, and offer drivers a bit more trunk space if they need it. The Mazda, on the other hand, offers space in a different dimension — up. Its retractable roof, which comes down in only 13 seconds, offers the driver and passenger a more open experience — literally — which offers a double benefit for taller drivers.

Why Choose the Mazda MX-5 Miata?

When you are in the market for an affordable sports car, the reality is that there just aren’t a lot of options out there. However, with its five diverse trim levels and top-of-the-line features, the MX-5 Miata alone offers ample selection compared to the rest of the market combined. Indeed, there is a reason that the Miata is the bestselling roadster of all time.

Superior Handling and Driving Fun

One of the most appealing features of the Mazda MX-5 Miata — or really any Mazda vehicle — is how fun it is to drive. This is because Mazda’s engineers and designers have focused on creating vehicles with superior handling, agile ability, and stylish appeal. Mazda is constantly updating the Miata’s systems, adding a new dynamic steering system to its 2024 models as well as a revised limited-slip differential that helps improve stability, for example. The result is a car that is just fun to drive.

Iconic Design and Timeless Appeal

The other draw of the Mazda MX-5 Miata is its history and its class. First introduced in 1989, Mazda has sold more than 1.2 million Miata models over its 35-plus year history, making it the bestselling two-seat sports car of all time. That popularity is due, in part, to the appeal of the Miata style, its affordability, and its classic style that keeps getting better with age.

Visit DePaula Mazda Today to Experience the Mazda MX-5 Miata

For those looking for an affordable sports car, it is hard to beat the Mazda MX-5 Miata, a classic car with all the modern technology any driver could want. However, the best way to really understand what the Miata offers is to drive it yourself. At DePaula Mazda in Albany, NY, we love nothing more than watching customers fall in love with the look, feel, and fun of the Mazda MX-5 Miata.

Are you ready to experience the fun driving experience that only a sports car can bring? Visit DePaula to test drive the Mazda MX-5 Miata today.